Ford is sending its electric Super Mustang Mach-E back to Pikes Peak to prove EV's belong at the top
Published on Jan 24, 2026 at 1:49 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jan 22, 2026 at 8:13 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
The Super Mustang Mach-E is returning to Pikes Peak, with the hope being that it’ll do Ford proud and prove EVs can be champions.
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado has been going strong since 1916, with only a few disruptions in its 100-plus-year history.
As one of the longest-running races in history, it’s got a massive reputation in the car world.
So it only seems fitting that Ford would want to put its best foot forward by sending the Super Mustang Mach-E to compete.
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The Super Mustang Mach-E is back – can it win Pikes Peak this time around?
Hoping to win Pikes Peak is no small order – 9,390ft in elevation at the start, and 14,110ft by the end, with a vertical grade of around 7.2 percent on average.
It’s quite literally an uphill battle.
Before 2011, this track was mostly unpaved, and vehicles were left going up dirt or gravel roads.
It’s a race that has seen a lot of cars over the years, including one driven by Ken Block’s wife, Lucy, who raced in honor of her late husband back in 2023.
Oh, and his daughter also raced Pikes Peak in tribute – talk about a motoring family.
Let’s just say, it wasn’t unheard of for cars to crash into surrounding woodlands.
Fortunately, things are a little less gnarly in the current day.
EVs have often performed well in this challenge, as they do not rely on oxygen for combustion – a hindrance for gas cars at the high altitudes.
Ford had put several EVs forward before, but they were prototypes.
Last year, the Super Mustang Mach-E made its debut, where it came in second place.
While this is commendable on its own merit, it’s still not what Ford was hoping for.
The manufacturer was looking for outright victory, and it’s the same sentiment this year.
When will the race take place?
Ford Racing teased the Super Mustang Mach-E on X, sharing a picture of it driving along a mountain road.
“Unfinished business,” it wrote.
Returning alongside the Mach-E will be the driver from last year’s effort, Romain Dumas.
Second time’s the charm, right?
The race will take place on June 21, 2026.
Timeline of Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
1916: First Hill Climb hosted on July 10, 1916.
1917-1921: Suspended due to World War 1 and its immediate aftermath.
1922-1941: Race resumes and becomes an annual motorsport tradition.
1942-1945: Paused due to World War II.
1946-1970s: Competition resumes with national and international attention.
1980s: Growing participation from European manufacturers and drivers.
1985: Michèle Mouton wins the 1985 race, setting a record time in the process – 11:25.39.
2012: The course is fully paved.
2013: Sébastien Loeb sets a new record time of 8:13.878.
2018: EVs break through.
2020: Canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
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Following stints at LadBible, The Sun, The New York Post, and the Daily Mail, Ben joined the team full-time in February 2025. In his role as Senior Content Writer, his sparkling copy, the ability to sniff out a good story at 100 paces, and a GSOH quickly led to him becoming an integral and invaluable member of the writing staff.
